SPORTS

Mistakes doom Leland Football in 35-13 loss to Lincoln

Leland quarterbacks picked off five times in loss

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

LOOKING TO BUST OUT. Charger running back Steven Ruel searches for a seam in the Lincoln defense during one of his runs. Ruel finished the day with 90 yards on the ground for Leland. Photo by Kevin Jones.

A little more than a week removed from a 13-12 win over Mount Pleasant in their season opener, the Leland football team suffered its first setback, dropping a 35-13 decision on the road to the Lincoln Lions.

“Lincoln played hard,” said Leland Head Coach Kelly Edwards. “They came out ready to play and I think we did too … they just stuffed it to us and we had too many mistakes on the offensive side of the ball.”

Leland quarterbacks threw five interceptions in the game and were sacked twice, despite a running game that totaled 174 yards on the day.

Diamond in the rough
Leland’s Alex Bynum, a two-way player at fullback and linebacker, picked up the slack for a lackluster passing game by rushing for 117 yards on 15 carries, including a 54-yard touchdown run with 1:51 left in the second quarter that tied the game 7-7.

“I had a good block by the left side of my line, and it was an open hole so I just took it all the way,” Bynum said of his run.

The 54-yard scramble by Bynum was significant, given that the Chargers relied almost solely on junior Steven Ruel to carry the rushing load for most of the first half. As a result, Ruel, who finished the game with 90 yards rushing on 18 carries, got sporadic rest in the second half, as Edwards’ confidence grew in Bynum’s running game.

“Alex did a good job,” said Edwards. “We’re going to get him the ball a little bit more and he’s a guy that wants it, so we’re going to keep giving it to him.”

The Chargers’ fortunes changed soon after Bynum’s run, as the Lions (2-0) regained the lead less than a minute later on a 5-yard touchdown run by Jason Silva, for a 13-7 advantage heading into halftime.

“I think we need to work harder,” said Bynum after the game. “We made a lot of mistakes and that lost us the game.”

Forgettable third quarter
The ball didn’t bounce the Chargers’ way in the third quarter either, as Leland quarterback Cory Williams threw a pass right into the hands of defender Patrick Yanez, who ran the ball 37 yards back to the Charger 3.

That play set up a second-and-goal touchdown run for two yards by Silva, which, combined with a successful two-point conversion, gave the Lions a 21-7 lead.

The Lions got into the end zone once more in the third quarter, as Kyle Jones, in at quarterback for Williams, threw a high pass to receiver Logan Foos, who tipped it right into the hands of Lincoln defensive back Kyle Martinez, returning the ball 43 yards to the Leland 17.

On the first play after the interception, Lincoln running back Raul Figueroa took a handoff from quarterback Tarik Hakmi and went into the end zone for another touchdown, giving the Lions a 28-7 lead.

“We’ve got to do the little things right,” said Edwards. “Right now we’re not doing the little things right and that makes a huge difference.”

Costly leap
Leland came back on their next series, getting a 68-yard Williams-to-Arthur King Jr. touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage. But as King ran down the right sideline for the score, the senior wide receiver leapt into the end zone, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct flag for 15 yards from the officiating crew. Moments later, flags were thrown again and King Jr. found himself ejected from the game for arguing with the officiating crew.

“Obviously, (the officiating crew) got mad because I dove in the end zone and then they kicked me out of the game,” King Jr. said. “They said that I said something but I didn’t, and they kicked me out.”

With the offense on the 33-yard line on the extra point try, a two-point conversion went nowhere, giving Lincoln a comfortable 28-13 lead. The Lions then sealed the game with yet another touchdown in the fourth quarter, getting a 5-yard run from Figueroa with 6:45 left.

The Chargers will now look to get back on the winning track tomorrow, visiting San Mateo High for a 3:30 p.m. non-league game.

High School Sports Schedule

Leland High School
Friday – Varsity football at San Mateo 3:30 p.m.
Friday – JV field hockey vs. Del Mar 4:30 p.m.
Friday – Varsity field hockey vs. Del Mar 3 p.m.
Friday – Varsity girls’ water polo at Menlo School for McDonald Invitational 3:50 p.m.
Saturday – Varsity girls’ water polo at Menlo School for McDonald Invitational
Saturday – Cross country at Westmoor High for RAM Invitational
Tuesday – Girls tennis at Independence 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday – JV girls’ water polo at Mitty 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity girls’ water polo at Mitty 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Frosh/soph boys’ water polo vs. Pioneer at Lincoln 4 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity boys’ water polo vs. Pioneer at Lincoln 5 p.m.
Wednesday – JV girls’ volleyball at Westmont 5 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ volleyball at Westmont 6 p.m.
Wednesday – JV field hockey at Live Oak 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity field hockey at Live Oak 3 p.m.
Thursday – Cross country vs. Evergreen and Silver Creek at Montgomery Hill 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Frosh/soph football vs. Branham at Pioneer 3:30 p.m.

Pioneer High School
Tuesday – JV girls’ volleyball at Lincoln 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity girls’ volleyball at Lincoln 5 p.m.
Wednesday – JV girls’ volleyball vs. San Jose at Pioneer 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ volleyball vs. San Jose at Pioneer 5 p.m.
Wednesday – Frosh/soph boys’ water polo vs. Leland at Lincoln 4 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity boys’ water polo vs. Leland at Lincoln 5 p.m.
Wednesday – JV girls’ water polo vs. Silver Creek at Independence 3 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ water polo vs. Silver Creek at Independence 4 p.m.
Wednesday – Cross country at Montgomery Hill (multiple teams) 3:30 p.m.

A match made in gym class

By Miranda Schultz
Sports Editor

What began as a friendship between Roland and Carrie Genise blossomed into a courtship, then to marriage. It may seem typical, but the relationship has a unique twist—the two met as teachers at Bret Harte Middle School 11 years ago and have been married for four years. They still work side by side as physical education teachers at the school.

When the two were introduced at a staff meeting, Roland was in the midst of a divorce from his first wife, and Carrie was engaged. In the years to come, Carrie’s marriage ended in divorce and it was only a matter of time before the two realized the convenience of dating.

“We had developed a really neat friendship over the years,” says Roland. “We shared a lot of the same interests and it made sense to start dating.”

The two share the same profession as well as the same teaching philosophy, thus making it easy for them to talk about issues at school. Both of them will tell you that there are more positives than negatives about working at the same school.

“We share ideas for our classes and we’ve done a few joint classes, which makes it fun,” says Carrie. “It is a big commonality that we have. We can discuss issues at school and we usually feel the same way about everything. I have learned a lot from him.”

“On rare occasions, we will need space that we really don’t have by going to work,” says Roland. “But that doesn’t happen very often. We are very professional.”

Roland says that he was very drawn to Carrie from the beginning because of her athleticism and professionalism in her career. “We would stay after school and play some kids in basketball. She would just jump in and play, and she took her job very seriously. I was very drawn to her.”

Both Carrie and Roland love their careers. They both decided they wanted to teach when they were young. Carrie, who majored in sociology, says, “I initially wanted to teach sociology. After talking to counselors, I realized that if high schools did offer the course, that it would be the first to be cut in a crisis. So I thought about what else I would be good at teaching, and physical education seemed right. I’ve always been interested in sports and athletics. I was inspired by teachers I had at a young age and am constantly reminded of that by how rewarding this career has been for me.”

Carrie says that the most rewarding thing about her job is the appreciation given by the students when they learn a new skill. “It’s pretty exciting to watch their improvement,” she says.

Roland, who attended Bret Harte, says he always loved sports and kids. “My father was a teacher, but I don’t know if that is what influenced me because I have three siblings who aren’t teachers. When I was a senior at Leland, I was asked by the girls’ basketball coach to help with a clinic for kids. I participated in that and realized that I was passionate about teaching. I always wanted to be a teacher, but that was the first time I remember thinking that I would be really good at it,” he says.

Roland doesn’t view physical education as an easy “A.” He really doesn’t give out that grade to kids who don’t work hard for it. “My job is to teach kids skills and have them put forth as much effort as they would in any other subject. I give homework. I tell the kids to practice their lay-up technique in front of the mirror at night, and then I will grade them on their technique. I don’t grade on athletic ability. When I give a basketball test, I don’t grade on the number of baskets they make, I grade on their technique. Any child can learn technique.”

Roland and Carrie have two daughters together, Athena, 3, and Savannah, 1, and they also have a daughter from Roland’s previous marriage, Rachel, 16.

“Before we had children, we would ride to and from work together. Now, things are different, one has to leave earlier to get the kids to the babysitter or something like that,” says Roland.

“The most common problem with teaching at the same school is that kids will go to her class when they’re supposed to be in mine at the beginning of the year, which is actually pretty cute,” says Roland.

Pioneer exposed as green up front, girds for league opener vs. Silver Creek

By Karl Laucher
Staff Writer

Pioneer High School football players have an extra week to stare at their navels and ponder who they really are: the team full of disciplined overachievers, which has made them perennial title contenders in Blossom Valley Athletic League, or the team that got blown off the line of scrimmage by Saratoga High School last weekend.

Some credit must go to the Mustangs for fighting to the finish, scoring three times in the final quarter, but by then Saratoga’s Falcons had withdrawn their talons, coasting, perhaps too casually, to a 34-27 non-league victory on their own field.

“They had some trouble defending our speed a little bit,” commented Saratoga Coach Mike Heinrich. “But they (the Mustangs) are a pretty good team. They’re not ranked No. 10 (in the Central Coast Section) for nothing.

Unless some uncommon charity is handed out in this time of austerity, the Mustangs (2-1 in non-league play) should forget the rankings until later in the season. Pioneer Coach Mark Krail noted that his troops “were slow getting out of the gate” against Saratoga. The biggest shortcoming he cited was the offensive line, where a number of underclassmen have been asked to step up. “We’re green and we’re still learning,” Krail said.

The Saratoga defensive line, fired up possibly by the Seminole war music performed repeatedly by the school band, did make life miserable for the Mustangs’ O line, executing a number of gap switches just before the ball was snapped.

Doing most of the damage for Saratoga was running back Peter Rutti who gained 183 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns. Pioneer got two touchdowns from running back Mike Makris, a one-yard run and a 58-yard run for a touchdown by Shaun Souza, all in the final period.

The Mustangs even drove to the one-yard line in the final minute of play, but ran out of downs.

Souza, who now has four touchdowns on the season, said the Mustangs have to feel good about themselves, making such a strong comeback. “We battled hard and made a game out of it,” he said.

Pioneer did make a game out of it, but also left plenty of question marks as to the ultimate quality of the 2004 product. Hopefully, a week off for reflection will result in a return to the wild on both sides of the Mustang line.

The Mustangs open BVAL/Mount Hamilton action at home Oct. 2 versus Silver Creek High, which opened its season with convincing wins over Overfelt and Mount Pleasant high schools. Silver Creek will seek win No. 3 Friday night at Santa Cruz High School.

Tillman, Monsees to be honored at San Jose Hall of Fame event

Leland graduates Pat Tillman and Zac Monsees will be among the honorees at the 10th anniversary of the San Jose Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Nov. 4 at the HP Pavilion.

Tillman, who was killed in military action last April in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger, was a star football player for Leland, Arizona State University and the Arizona Cardinals before turning down a lucrative NFL contract with the Cardinals to join the armed service in 2002.

The Arizona Cardinals honored Tillman last weekend in a halftime ceremony attended by his widow, Marie, his parents and his brother Richard.

Monsees was the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s most valuable player in water polo in 2003 and a Central Coast Section swimming champion in the spring. He currently is attending Cal-Berkeley on scholarship.

Among others to be honored at San Jose Hall of Fame festivities include former Stanford and 49er quarterback John Brodie, former Santa Clara University and Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kurt Rambis, former San Jose State and pro golf star Ken Venturi and former Stanford standout and Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Amy Chow.

Individual tickets for the Hall of Fame are $150. For more information call the San Jose Sports Authority at 288-2932 or go on line at www.sjsa.org.

Almaden Times Classic nears puberty: races hit the trail again Oct. 10

The annual Almaden Times 10k run made history last year when a woman, Dr. Kari Ann Bertrand of Gilroy, won the overall competition for the first time. It was a nice twist on the event’s 10th anniversary.

The Classic run, which includes portions of the Los Alamitos Creek Trail as well as Almaden neighborhoods, will turn 11 years old on Oct. 10, so of course, new dynamics can be expected for such an impetuous age.

BMX cycle racing stages Western Finals in Santa Clara

The Western Finals of ABA (American Bicycle Association) will be held Friday through Sunday at the Santa Clara PAL BMX track with hundreds of riders from age 5 and under to people in their 50s and 60s seeking the title of Redline Cup champion.

Riders are classed by age and skill level (girls and cruiser classes are just by age). Friday night is a ABA regular triple point race, Saturday is a National Event and Sunday is the actual Redline Cup Championship.

For more information call (408) 727-7538 or visit the Web site for the event at www.ababmx.com/RedlineCupFinals_detail.asp?RaceID=15466.

High School Sports Roundup

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

Leland High School Roundup
In varsity field hockey action, the Chargers went on the road to face the Los Altos Eagles on Friday, Sept. 17, and walked away with a 1-1 tie.

After a scoreless first half, Los Altos managed to get on the board with a goal during the first five minutes of play in the second half for a 1-0 lead. The Chargers stormed back with nine minutes to go in regulation play, getting a goal from junior right wing Ashley Bandanza to tie the game.

The tie forced both teams into a seven-on-seven sudden death overtime period, but the results remained the same: Leland 1, Los Altos 1.

“The team is starting to play well together,” said Leland Head Coach Sharan Kalla. “Not one single person stood out (against Los Altos), but rather the whole team, which worked together to move the ball on the field.”

The boys’ cross country team met Leigh and Piedmont Hills high schools at Montgomery Hill on Thursday, Sept. 16, winning a 30-26 contest over Piedmont Hills and a 31-25 decision over Leigh, before dropping a 28-27 loss to Piedmont Hills in their second meeting.

Meanwhile, the girls’ cross country team dropped 35-23, 29-27 decisions to Piedmont Hills but winning a close 28-27 meet over Leigh at Montgomery Hill.

Sophomore Monica Song finished sixth overall among individual times, completing the course in 20 minutes and 26 seconds.

It was a positive week for the girls’ tennis team, winning contests on both Thursday, Sept. 16, and Friday, Sept. 17.

On Thursday, the Chargers took a 4-3 decision at home against Silver Creek High. Leland’s No.1 singles player, Roshie Larijani got a 6-1, 6-1 victory to help her team.

On the down side, the Chargers’ No.1 doubles team had to forfeit their match because Katie Alesch, who teams up with Helen Lee, had recurring pain in both her shoulder and knee.

Alesch, feeling better the next day, rose to the challenge with Lee during Leland’s 6-1 road win against Aptos High. The duo won their No.1 doubles matchup 6-2, 6-4.

In the No.1 singles match, Roxy Pourmirzaie took Larijani’s place for the day and won her match 6-1, 6-2.

The boys’ water polo team had a rough time at the Menlo Tournament at Menlo College on Friday and Saturday, losing three straight non-league games.

The team suffered two losses on Friday, dropping an 8-4 decision to Burlingame and losing a close 6-5 game to San Benito.

Leland’s lone game on Saturday produced a similar result, as the team lost an 11-4 contest to Gunn High.

Despite the losses, Head Coach Mike Monsees said juniors Jon Foote and Shane Keno played well, despite the relative youth and inexperience on his team.

“We have a real young team this year and the Menlo Tournament is one of the top tournaments in the (Bay Area),” Monsees said. “The tournament was a chance for our young kids to face the best players in the area.”

Pioneer High School Roundup
The girls’ volleyball squad finished up their preseason last week, dropping games on Sept. 14 against Willow Glen and Sept. 16 at Silver Creek before winning their last preseason game against Gunderson on Friday, Sept. 17. The Mustangs dropped the first game against Gunderson 26-24 before charging back and taking the next three games 25-12, 25-13 and 25-15.

Head Coach Michelle Ritter, who lost seven seniors from last year’s team, is preparing her young team for the regular season, scheduled to begin on Sept. 21 against San Jose. Ritter said she will count heavily on her only returning starter, senior Stephanie Morales.

“She’s my number one girl,” Ritter said. “She’s a setter who is really fast and really hardworking.”

Ritter also has three sophomores on her 2004 team, including one starter in outside hitter/middle blocker Heidi Isaacson.

“I’m happy with my sophomores,” Ritter said of Isaacson, Danielle Clough and Steffi Mattern. “So far they’ve been doing a good job.”

Ritter will look for junior outside hitter Katie Town to have a solid season and provide stability to the young and inexperienced team.

“She’s strong, she’s quick and has a great hit,” Ritter said of Town. “She’s going to end up coming out really strong as the season wears on.”

The girls’ tennis team came away with a big 4-3 victory over first-place Oak Grove on Thursday, Sept. 16, as both the No.1 singles player, Misa Tanaka, and the No.1 doubles duo of Caroline Tran and Giana Flores got key wins in their matches.

In No.1 singles play, Tran took a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory, while Tran and Flores took a 7-5, 6-1 decision. The road win for the Mustangs improved their record to 2-2.

“We’re not expected to place higher than fourth or fifth (this season), so to beat the number one team was definitely tremendous,” head coach Julie Szarlacki said. “The girls were definitely upbeat on Friday.”

In cross country news, the boys’ varsity team placed 11th out of 25 at the Chieftain Invitational in Salinas, featuring other local schools such as Los Gatos, Yerba Buena and Bellarmine.

In the preseason tune-up, Pioneer’s Steven DeLay finished the three-mile course in 11th place among individual times, running the course in 16 minutes and 32 seconds, a personal best.

“They did very well and we’re hoping to move on and defend our West Valley Division title this year,” head coach Jim Polanco said. “(The boys’ team consists) of all seniors and they’re looking to do well this year.”

Send in your sports news! We want to cover as many sports at as many schools as possible. If you have a sport story e-mail us at diego@timesmediainc.com.

The Times welcomes new sports writer Diego Abeloos

In our ongoing effort to bring our readers the best sports coverage of the Almaden Valley, we have added a new, highly qualified sports writer, Diego Abeloos, to our team.

Abeloos earned a B.S. in journalism from San Jose State and has worked as a sports writer on a number of other community papers. He offers youth, energy, talent and, quite frankly, an obsession with sports.

Diego is a Belgian citizen (with a permanent U.S. residency status), who grew up in Los Altos where he played high school baseball. He and his wife live in the Japantown section of San Jose.

"I'm really excited to join the Times staff," said Diego, "and hope to get a lot of feedback from readers on what sports they want covered. I'm looking to build strong ties with the prep sports community, as well as others."

If you have a sports story idea, comment or even a complaint feel free to contact Diego at (408) 494-7000 x 217 or e-mail him at diego@timesmediainc.com.